The 12 Best Under-Eye Patches That Boost Radiance, De-Puff, and Smooth
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These picks target fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and dryness
People / David Hattan
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your entire body. This means it's the first place to show signs of aging or the consequences of not getting your full, recommended eight hours of sleep.
Taking care of your under-eyes is nothing new in the skincare world. We have beauty products, gadgets, and gizmos aplenty to help target some of the trickiest conditions. A skincare routine is not complete without a trusty eye cream, but if you're looking to take your under-eye care up a notch, consider adding one of our expert-endorsed patches to your roster.
To find the best under-eye patches on the shelves, we reviewed countless products in the category and asked dermatologists for their top picks for dry skin, dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Read on for the best under-eye patches to boost radiance and smooth that delicate under-eye area.
Best Overall: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Targeted Patches
These made-for-anywhere patches from RoC earned our top spot for their top-of-the-line ingredient list and also for their accessible price point. Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetics and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, recommends these patches for their age-defying ingredients.
“Roc Targeted Patches contain a blend of retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to strengthen, plump, and smooth the skin,” he notes. And while the ingredient list may have drawn us in, the delivery system is what made these patches stand out.
“These patches use dissolving micro-cones to deliver the active ingredients directly to the skin,” explains Dr. Zeichner. This allows for a more targeted, deeper delivery of active ingredients that address fine lines as opposed to just sitting on the surface of the skin. What's important to note, though, is that they may have a slight initial "pinching" feel.
Quantity: 6 (3 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Skin Types: All
Best Value: Demora 24K Gold Eye Mask
With over 24,000 five-star reviews at Amazon, we were curious about what made these under-eye patches so buzzy. It turns out they visibly help fade discoloration and even reduce puffiness and fine lines. The user experience is also commendable, as the gel firmly grips the skin, so you can wear them comfortably without worrying about the dreaded sliding effect.
While the name insinuates that there is 24K gold in the patches, the ingredient list credits plant extracts like rosemary and chamomile with their antioxidant properties, which are to thank for their protective, de-puffing prowess.
Quantity: 40 (20 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Resveratrol, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, chamomile | Skin Types: All
Best Splurge: 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask
We will give you a second. Now that you have gotten over the sticker shock, let’s get into why these are worth the hefty price tag. Beloved by beauty editors, this diamond particle-infused patch targets fine lines, locks in moisture, and soothes the skin.
“The older I get, the more I reach for eye treatments. I can attest: These celeb-loved eye masks are worth the price tag,” PEOPLE Deputy Beauty Director Jackie Fields shares. “They are super comfortable, and I'm always impressed by how crazy-smooth my skin looks after use. For real: They temporarily shave years off faster than it takes me to drink a cup of coffee.”
Quantity: 16 (8 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Argeline, hyaluronic acid, retinol | Skin Types: All
Best for Dark Circles: Pacifica Eye Bright Undereye Vitamin C Spot Serum Mask
Dark eye circles occur for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is lack of sleep, but they can also be more prominent because of excessive alcohol consumption, allergies, or aging. In more frustrating circumstances, under-eye darkness can happen because of genetics, whether that be thin skin that showcases the pooling of blood under the eyes or pigmentation in the under-eye area.
One ingredient that works diligently to combat this, though, is vitamin C. “This antioxidant blocks the production of abnormal pigment to brighten the skin,” says Dr. Zeichner.
These particular vitamin C-infused patches receive rave reviews for their ability to boost the under-eye area as well as offer a tightening effect. They're also infused with marine plant extracts to hydrate and smooth the skin. Because they're fragrance-free, these popular patches are also a great choice for those with sensitive skin.
Quantity: 2 (1 pair) | Active Ingredients: Vitamin C | Skin Types: All
Related: The 10 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Best for Fine Lines: Dr. Zion x Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks
A South Korean immigrant and board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Zion Ko, started going viral on social media for her honest beauty reviews and under-eye patch testing videos. Her videos made such a stir that Murad decided to collaborate with her on a pair of patches targeting fine lines and wrinkles.
“For wrinkles and lines, you should use a retinol-containing patch," recommends Dr. Zeichner. "Retinol stimulates the production of collagen to strengthen the foundation of the skin and improve the appearance of lines."
These are favorites among users because of the time-released retinol. While retinol is the gold standard of anti-aging, it can be irritating at times. Encapsulating keeps the retinol protected, and it also reduces the risk of flaking, especially around the eye area.
Quantity: 2 (1 pair) or 10 (5 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Retinol | Skin Types: All
Best for Hydration: Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Firming Mask
No matter the skin issues, all roads seem to lead back to dryness, which can be the source of lines or "caving." These patches are your best bet against that. Dr. Zeichner tells us that these are one of his favorites. For dry skin or hollowness, he recommends turning to hyaluronic acid.
“This super humectant acts like a sponge to grab onto water and pull water into the outer skin layer to hydrate dry cells,” he tells us. “This patch contains concentrated hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and firm under-eye skin.”
If you have dry skin under the eyes and are trying to tackle fine lines and hyperpigmentation, these hydrating patches may be right for you. The only downside to these patches is the price point, which is certainly among the priciest on our list.
Quantity: 10 (5 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, allantoin | Skin Types: All
Related: The 20 Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Best Anti-Aging: Loops Weekly Reset Eye Mask
There is so much to love about these aesthetically pleasing pink masks, from the hydrating pearl extract to the infusion of retinol to target thin skin and fine lines. Dr. Hadley King of Dr. Hadley King Dermatology in New York City also counts this mask as one of her favorites.
“It hydrates and supports the skin barrier and contains niacinamide to help improve tone and texture,” she says. “It also contains retinol for anti-aging effects.”
We recommend popping these nourishing and radiance-boosting masks on before applying your makeup for a smooth, glowy surface. Since they contain retinol, these may not be suitable for those with sensitive skin.
Quantity: 2 (1 pair) | Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, pearl extract, retinol | Skin Types: All
Best for Puffiness: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Think of these patches like a green smoothie for bloated, puffy under-eyes, but instead of spinach, berries, and protein, this relies on a potent blend of cucumber extract, aloe, caffeine, and allantoin. Cucumbers help reduce puffiness and boost hydration, and that is exactly how they function in these patches.
Our tester loved how these felt cool to the touch upon application. “Wearing these felt like a mini spa moment,” our tester told PEOPLE. “I pop them on in the morning to help me fake [looking] awake for the upcoming day.”
Quantity: 60 (30 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Cucumber extract, allantoin, hyaluronic acid, caffeine | Skin Types: All
Best for Nighttime: Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels
These simple gel patches from Patchology require just five minutes of your time before bed to begin the process of smoothing fine lines and soothing your skin. Each patch is formulated with retinol, squalane, peptides, and arnica extract to reduce fine lines and dark circles and boost your skin. Wear the patches each night, and you’ll begin to see a reduction in dark circles and puffiness under the eyes after a few days, and fine lines will begin to disappear after about a week.
These soothing patches have a bit of stickiness to them, so they’ll stay in place while you soak up all the enriching ingredients. While they only require five minutes, you're welcome to wear them for longer.
Quantity: 10 (5 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, arnica extract | Skin Types: All
Best for Fast Results: Peace Out Puffy Under-Eye Patches
These under-eye patches from Peace Out are packed with all the best ingredients to hydrate the skin and reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark circles under the eyes: caffeine, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
Because these bio-cellulose patches are filled with all this goodness, they work quickly — in as little as 15 minutes — to revitalize the under-eye area.
These large patches also provide a good amount of coverage for the skin under the eyes while they work. If you’re looking for a quick fix to boost radiance and reduce puffiness, give these patches a try.
Quantity: 12 (6 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Skin Types: All
Best for Boosting Radiance: Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks
These elegant-looking under-eye patches work overtime to boost radiance and give the skin the hydration boost it needs. Each patch is made of three layers that deliver luxurious ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe leaf extract, and lavender oil and hold them in place.
While they take a little time to work, these under-eye patches help reduce the appearance of dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles while soothing, cooling, and firming the delicate under-eye area.
True to their name, “baggage claim eye masks,” these sumptuous masks will rejuvenate your under-eye area after a long flight or late night out.
Quantity: 12 (6 pairs) | Active Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, calendula extract, camu camu extract | Skin Types: All
Best Reusable: Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask
This under-eye patch functions a little differently than the rest of the options on this list. Instead of being infused with active ingredients like hyaluronic acid or retinol, these just function as a silicone patch. They work to amplify your favorite eye creams or serums by holding the product onto the skin and blocking the product from evaporating.
The differences do not stop there; instead of throwing away these patches after you're finished, rinse the patches to get rid of excess product and then pat them dry. One tester has been using the same pair for six months. Sure, it involves a little extra work to store them, but it's worth it to cut back on waste.
Quantity: 1 pair (reusable) | Active Ingredients: None | Skin Types: All
Related: The 13 Best Eye Serums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
What to Know About Under-Eye Patches
Similar to choosing the right face mask, the most important part about picking an under-eye patch is to think about your skin concerns and what ingredients work best to fight those things.
What Are You Targeting?
Dry Skin: Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and vitamin E. Our top pick for hydration is the Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Firming Mask which contains hyaluronic acid and allantoin.
Dark Circles: Look for ingredients like vitamin C, Kakadu plum, and licorice root extract. Our top pick for dark circles is the Pacifica Eye Bright Under-Eye Vitamin C Spot Serum, which contains radiance-boosting vitamin C and kelp.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Look for ingredients like retinol, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. For fine lines and wrinkles, we love the retinol-infused Dr. Zion x Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks.
Puffiness: Look for ingredients like caffeine, allantoin, and niacinamide. Our top pick for puffiness, Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches, contains caffeine and allantoin.
Take Our Word For It
Anneke Knot is a seasoned beauty and wellness writer and has written for Health, Real Simple, and Byrdie, to name a few. For this piece, she interviewed multiple dermatologists for their product recommendations and their tips for using this product in the best way, as well as polled real-life users of the products for their thoughts.
Our Expert Panel
Joshua Zeichner, MD is a board-certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Hadley King, MD leads Dr. Hadley King Dermatology in New York City.
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